Major HUGH PAUL SEAGRIM
19th Hyderabad Regiment
Died 14 September 1944
Age 35 years old
- Country of Service Indian
- Awards George Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Member of the Order of the British Empire
- Additional Info Son of the Reverend Charles Paulet Conyngham Seagrim and Amabel Emma Halsted Seagrim, of East Dean, Eastbourne, Sussex. His brother, Derek Anthony, also fell and was awarded the Victoria Cross.
- Personal Inscription "INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT"
- Additional Citation note
The following details are given in the London Gazette of September 12th, 1946: "Awarded the George Cross for most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner." Major Seagrim was the leader of a party which included two other British and one Karen officer working in the Karen Hills of Burma. By the end of 1943 the Japanese had learned of this party who then commenced a campaign of arrests and torture to determine their whereabouts. In February 1944 the other two British officers were ambushed and killed but Major Seagrim and the Karen officer escaped. The Japanese then arrested 270 Karens and tortured and killed many of them but still they continued to support Major Seagrim. To end further suffering to the Karens, Seagrim surrendered himself to the Japanese on 15th March 1944. He was taken to Rangoon and together with eight others he was sentenced to death. He pleaded that the others were following his orders and as such they should be spared, but they were determined to die with him and were all executed.
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